About the CAV Safety Hub
The need for better knowledge
While road safety practitioners are aware of the future development of connected and autonomous vehicles (CAV), there is a poor level of understanding of their likely contribution to improved safety.
The objective of the project is to increase the awareness in the road safety community of the value of emerging technologies, aimed at not only assisting the driver but also increasingly capable of carrying out parts of the driving function and accelerating consumer demand for safer vehicles.
Building on the knowledge available through the work of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CCAV), other agencies and from industry, this project aims to improve the understanding of the road safety practitioner community of the effectiveness of advanced safety technologies becoming available and being trialed as autonomous vehicles are being developed for our roads. The connectivity of future vehicles with their environments and each other has the potential to improve road safety and reduce congestion and emissions, but there are challenges associated with minimizing driver distraction and providing harmonized solutions. This project also aims to remove myths and provide clear information through an interactive program of awareness.
The program will provide valuable insights into how CAVs operate and how they interact with other road users. At the same time it will promote a better understanding of the increasing levels of technology aimed at assisting the driver, but also increasingly capable of carrying out parts of the driving function in new vehicles, sold over time.
Who will provide this knowledge
A few experts and companies have decided to create this CAV Safety Hub Programme and if you wish to be part of the team, you are very welcome.
Adrian Walsh, Roadsafe
RoadSafe’s mission is to reduce road deaths and injuries by supporting and encouraging partnerships between the private sector and road safety professionals, to promote the safe design and use of vehicles and roads by sharing knowledge and encouraging innovation.
We focus on the following key areas:
- The application of the ‘Safe System'.
- The rapid introduction and use of new vehicles with the latest safety technology.
- Road safety at work.
- Reducing the risk to young drivers.
- Improved roads which encourage drivers to drive more safely.
RoadSafe has a community of 6000+ registered members, mainly people with a professional interest in road safety (Road Safety Practitioners), who are kept in touch with developments through a monthly e-news, which is transmitted to this community and redistributed to many thousands more in Britain and across the world. If you wish to subscribe to this e-news please click here.
Nick Reed and David Fulker, Robert Bosch Ltd
''Never forget your humanity, and respect human dignity in your dealings with others.'' Robert Bosch, 1931
As the world’s leading supplier of automotive technology, Bosch develops systems that make vehicles safer, more efficient and more enjoyable to use. Automated driving is a widely discussed topic, but it may take many forms and affect our roads in many different ways. Some automation systems such as automated emergency braking (AEB) are already available today and delivering measurable reductions in crash risk. Higher levels of automation are being developed rapidly, but require more work to be ready for public deployment. We are delighted to support this project to help ensure that the widest range of stakeholders have access to clear information about the deployment path for automation systems and how they may deliver tangible benefits for citizens, businesses and the wider society.
Richard Cuerden, TRL Academy
The Academy is TRL’s innovation and development centre that delivers research programmes and projects underpinning our position as a leading transport research institute. The work of the Academy aims to increase our intellectual capital, skills and capabilities across science, engineering and research disciplines.
The Academy’s work is vital for the development of evidence-based solutions and new insights into the ever changing and demanding transport landscape. Our ability to generate and apply this knowledge not only helps to shape and define the future of transport, but also enables us to address and solve complex transport challenges for our clients.
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Suzy Charman, Road Safety Foundation
The Road Safety Foundation is a UK charity advocating road casualty reduction through simultaneous action on all components of the safe road system: roads and roadsides, speeds, vehicles, road users, post-crash care, and leadership. We led the establishment of the European Road Assessment Programme (EuroRAP) and more recently this has fed into the International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP). The Foundation plays a pivotal role in raising awareness and understanding of the importance of road infrastructure, taking a proactive approach to managing risk rather than simply reacting to crashes when they occur.
The Safe System approach is based on the principle that people make mistakes and that the road system as a whole should therefore be designed to minimise the likelihood of human error resulting in death or serious injury. Given that driver error is a significant contributory factor in the majority of road traffic collisions, Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) offer the possibility of preventing many of the most serious collisions while also creating their own challenges for road users.
With CAVs beginning to enter the public realm, the transition of vehicles at different levels of automation, how they interact and the ways in which human behaviours adapt to this growing mix of environments, will become an increasing issue. Infrastructure will therefore remain key for many years to come, ensuring that road users and vehicles are consistently provided with a clear understanding of what is expected of them in any given scenario.
We are pleased to be part of this journey, and will continue to make certain that safety remains at the heart of the debate about how CAVs are adopted.